About This Quiz
Ready to test your N4 Japanese grammar? This quiz focuses specifically on the Passive (受身形 - Ukemi-kei) and Causative (使役形 - Shieki-kei) forms. These grammatical patterns are essential for expressing nuanced actions and relationships in Japanese.
We've prepared 10 multiple-choice questions to help you practice and solidify your understanding of how to correctly form and use these structures. Read each question thoroughly, consider all the options, and select the best answer. Good luck on your learning journey!
Questions
Question 1. 私は先生に褒め____。
- A) られた
- B) させた
- C) られる
- D) させて
Answer
A) られた. Explanation: The passive form of 褒める (homeru - to praise) is 褒められる (homerareru). In this context, the speaker was praised in the past, so the past passive form 褒められた is correct. The sentence means "I was praised by the teacher."
Question 2. 母は私に部屋を掃除____。
- A) させた
- B) された
- C) して
- D) しないで
Answer
A) させた. Explanation: To express that "My mother made me clean the room" in the past tense, we use the causative form of 掃除する (souji suru - to clean), which is 掃除させる (souji saseru). Thus, 掃除させた is the correct choice here.
Question 3. 次の文で正しいものはどれですか。
- A) 犬が私に噛まれる。
- B) 私は犬に噛まれた。
- C) 私は犬が噛まれる。
- D) 犬を私に噛まれる。
Answer
B) 私は犬に噛まれた. Explanation: This is the grammatically correct passive sentence meaning "I was bitten by a dog." In passive sentences, the agent of the action (the dog in this case) is marked with the particle に.
Question 4. 先生は生徒に宿題を____。
- A) 書かせた
- B) 書かれた
- C) 書く
- D) 書きたい
Answer
A) 書かせた. Explanation: To say "The teacher made the students write homework" in the past tense, we use the causative form of 書く (kaku - to write), which is 書かせる (kakaseru). Therefore, 書かせた is the correct answer.
Question 5. 「この本は多くの人に読まれています。」の意味はどれですか。
- A) Many people are reading this book now.
- B) Many people want to read this book.
- C) This book is read by many people.
- D) This book reads many people.
Answer
C) This book is read by many people. Explanation: The passive form 読まれています (yomarete imasu) indicates that the book is the subject receiving the action of being read. It implies a continuing state, meaning "This book is read by many people" or "This book is being read by many people."
Question 6. 「私は子どもに野菜を食べさせました。」の意味はどれですか。
- A) I ate vegetables with my child.
- B) I made my child eat vegetables.
- C) My child ate vegetables for me.
- D) My child wanted to eat vegetables.
Answer
B) I made my child eat vegetables. Explanation: The causative form 食べさせました (tabesasemashita) means "made someone eat." In this sentence, the speaker (私) caused their child (子供) to eat vegetables.
Question 7. 次の文で間違っているものはどれですか。
- A) 新しい橋が来年建てられるでしょう。
- B) 彼は皆に愛されている。
- C) 私は友達に秘密を話された。
- D) 車に私が壊された。
Answer
D) 車に私が壊された. Explanation: This sentence literally translates to "I was broken by the car," which is highly unnatural and incorrect in Japanese when referring to a person. Typically, an object is broken, for example, 私の車が壊された (My car was broken). If a person is involved in a car accident, a more appropriate expression might be 車にひかれた (I was run over by a car) or 車にぶつけられた (I was hit by a car).
Question 8. 次の文で間違っているものはどれですか。
- A) 部長は私に資料を作らせた。
- B) 先生は学生を本を読ませた。
- C) 母は私に晩御飯を作らせた。
- D) 彼は私に待たせた。
Answer
B) 先生は学生を本を読ませた. Explanation: In causative sentences where the caused action has a direct object (like 本を読ませる - "make someone read a book"), the person being caused to act (学生) should be marked with the particle に, not を. The correct sentence structure would be 先生は学生に本を読ませた (The teacher made the students read a book).
Question 9. 社長に残業____。 (I was made to work overtime by the president.)
- A) させられた
- B) された
- C) させて
- D) させる
Answer
A) させられた. Explanation: This is the passive-causative form, which expresses being forced or made to do something. The verb 残業する (zangyou suru - to work overtime) becomes 残業させられる (zangyou saserareru) in the passive-causative. Since the sentence indicates a past event, the correct form is 残業させられた.
Question 10. 来週のパーティーについて、次のどちらがより自然ですか？
- A) 私は彼にパーティーを企画させた。
- B) 私は彼にパーティーを企画させられた。
- C) 私が彼にパーティーを企画した。
- D) 彼にパーティーを企画させます。
Answer
A) 私は彼にパーティーを企画させた. Explanation: This sentence means "I made him plan the party," implying the speaker initiated or instructed the action. This is a natural causative usage. Option B, 企画させられた, is passive-causative ("I was made to plan by him"), which suggests being coerced and carries a different nuance. Option C, 私が彼にパーティーを企画した, is grammatically incorrect for direct causation in this context. Option D is present/future tense, but given the context of "next week's party," a decision or instruction would likely have already been given, making the past causative form (企画させた) more appropriate if that instruction occurred in the past.
Score Guide
- 9-10: Excellent! Your grasp of N4 Passive and Causative forms is strong. You are well-prepared for more advanced Japanese grammar!
- 7-8: Good understanding. You've clearly understood the core concepts. A little more review of specific areas could further boost your confidence.
- 5-6: More practice needed. Don't worry, these grammar points can be challenging! Focus on reviewing the rules and practicing various sentence constructions. Keep going!
- 0-4: Comprehensive review recommended. It seems these grammar points need a thorough brush-up. Revisit the basics of Passive and Causative forms before trying this quiz again. You'll definitely improve with dedicated study!